Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 29).djvu/105

 Chenooks                                            209 Clatsops                                            220 At the Cascades                                     105 At the Dalles                                       250 Y'Akama River                                       100 {311} De Chute River                                125 Umpquas                                             400 Roger's [Rogue's] River                             500 Klamets                                             300 Shastys                                             500 Kallapugus                                          600 Nisqually                                           200 Chikelis and Puget's Sound                          700 Cowelits or Klakatacks                              350 Port Orchard                                        150 19,154

The whole Territory may be estimated as containing twenty thousand. Of whites, Canadians, and half-breeds, there are between seven hundred and eight hundred, of whom about one hundred and fifty are Americans; the rest are settlers, and the officers and servants of the Company. The Indians are rapidly decreasing in all parts of the country; the causes are supposed to be their rude treatment of diseases, and the dissipated lives they lead.

The white American population, as far as I have been able to judge of them, are orderly, and generally industrious; although they are, with the exception of the missionaries, men who have led, for the most part, dissolute lives.

{312} The absence of spirits, as long as it continues, will probably secure them from excesses. Very much to their credit, they have abandoned the use of spirituous liquors, by consent of the whole community.

I cannot but view this Territory as peculiarly liable